Our Top Picks for April 25-27 Entertainment on the Emerald Coast

This weekend it’s all about being OUTDOORS! There is a charity golf tournament, Relay for Life event, an Arbor Day event, a Heritage 5K and more. Try to get out and attend a couple of them, or ALL of them! For current weather updates, be sure to check www.weather.com or tune in via television to The Weather Channel.

The Life’s A Beach crew wishes everyone a very safe and BEACHY weekend! Enjoy!

Friday, April 25, 2014:
Emerald Coast Volleyball Week
4/23-4/27
Okaloosa Island Boardwalk
This 26-year running event invites all volleyball players (no matter their skill level) out to the beach for a week of fun in the sun and sand. This is, however, a primarily adult-oriented event. The event is presented by Fudpucker's Beachside Bar & Grill. For more information, visit www.EmeraldCoastVolleyball.com.

30th Annual Fun Fest
4/25-4/26
Navarre Beach
Time: Friday - 4-10 p.m.  Saturday - 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Santa Rosa Medical Center presents nonstop entertainment with arts & crafts, a children's area (unlimited pass to enjoy inflatables at a low price), fireworks, a 5K run, food and more! There will be a free shuttle service from the Navarre Beach Park during festival hours. Two nights of FREE concerts include performances by Maddy Rose, Chloe Channell, The Chris Martin Band and Robert Wayne. Visit www.NavarreChamber.com for complete details and registration forms.

Musical Echoes Native American Flute Festival and Cultural Event
4/25-4/27
Fort Walton Beach Landing
If art, sculpting flutes, or playing the flute is a passion of yours, then there's a creative annual event in Fort Walton Beach calling your name. The totem for the 2014 festival is the hummingbird. There are three competitions at the festival: an Arts competition, a Flute Makers competition and a Flute Players competition. Spectators can enjoy the festival for free. There will be concerts, vendors with flutes, jewelry, baskets and more, and Native-American style food. Visit www.MusicalEchoes.org for more information.

Photo courtesy of Bill Lucas.

24^th Annual Amici d’Italiani Charity Golf Tournament

Shalimar Pointe Golf Club

302 Country Club Road

Shalimar

Registration: 10:30 a.m.  Shotgun start/tee time: noon

Sons & Daughters of Italy Joseph B. Franzalia Lodge #2422 proudly presents the 24^th Annual Amici d’Italiani Charity Golf Tournament in loving memory of our departed Brothers & Sisters. The cost per person is $60 for nonmembers and $50 for Shalimar Pointe members. The fee covers your cart, beverage and food. The proceeds of this dedicated tournament go toward scholarships of college-bound seniors. For more information or to purchase your player application or hole sponsor application, call 850.863.8944 or 850.609.6077.

Relay for Life of Fort Walton Beach

Northwest Florida Fairgrounds

1958 Lewis Turner Blvd.

Fort Walton Beach

Time: 6 p.m.

For 29 years, Relay for Life has been the American Cancer Society’s premiere fundraising event. This overnight, walking journey celebrates our survivors and honors those whose lives were taken by cancer. Help the continuation in funding cancer research and providing services for those fighting for their lives. Register your team at www.RelayForLife.com and join the community on April 25 at the NWF Fairgrounds.

Dance Facets 2014

4/25-4/26

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

Mainstage Theater at NWFSC

100 College Blvd.

Niceville

Time: 7:30 p.m.

The stellar dance students at Northwest Florida State College present their annual dance concert, Dance Facets 2014, featuring original works and choreography, stunning talent and more on April 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. Dancers will perform original dance presentations, featuring classical ballet, contemporary and modern. To purchase tickets, contact the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office at 850.729.6000 or purchase online at www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org.

Destin Charity Wine Auction

4/25-4/27

Children in Crisis, Inc.

Grand Boulevard

Miramar Beach

Destin Charity Wine Auction is recognized as one of the nation’s “Top 10 U.S. Charity Wine Auctions” by Wine Spectator Magazine and is the Foundation’s largest annual event. The event draws wine aficionados, gourmet chefs and celebrity vintners from around the world to enjoy word-class wines in the gorgeous setting of white-sand beaches on Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast. Funds raised benefit 12 local charities, impacting the lives of children in need. To view the schedule of events, visit www.destinchamber.com.

City of Destin to Host Arbor Day Event

City of Destin

4200 Indian Bayou Trail

Destin

Time: 10:00 a.m.

This event will feature a guest speaker and a tree-planting ceremony by the city’s Environmental/Tree Committee. The ceremonial magnolia tree for this year has been donated by former Mayor Sam Seevers, dedicated to the City of Destin staff. Mayor Ponder will host the ceremony. The featured guest speaker will be Henderson Beach State Park Specialist, Lynda Smith. The city will give away an Eastern Redbud seedling to the first 50 people to arrive at the ceremony. The public is welcome to bring their own seedlings to trade with other tree enthusiasts. For more information on this event, visit www.destinchamber.com.

Saturday, April 26, 2014:

38^th Annual Saturday in the Park & Heritage 5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run

Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida

115 Westview Ave.

Valparaiso

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This free, family-oriented event offers a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy. The festival begins with the Heritage 5K Run/Walk and Kids one-mile Fun Run at 8 a.m. It then continues throughout the day with live entertainment, historic craft demonstrations, re-enactments, folk artists, food vendors and a Kids Zone with old-fashioned toys, contests and more! Register early (before April 24) at www.Active.com or visit the Heritage Museum. For more information, contact 850.678.2615.

6^th Annual Spring Market

4/26-4/27

Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island

1250 Miracle Strip Pkwy.

Fort Walton Beach

Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This two-day shopping extravaganza features vendors from around the country, selling unique gifts and quality merchandise. The event enables locals and visitors to shop while supporting the various community projects of the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. General admission is $5. All proceeds benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. If you would like to be a vendor, please e-mail JLECMarket@yahoo.com.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day/Camp Sign-Up Day

Fort Walton Beach YMCA

1127 Hospital Road

Fort Walton Beach

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Healthy Kids Day is the YMCA’s national initiative to improve the health and well-bring of families, featuring fun, active play and educational activities to help kids be healthy and reach their full potential. Healthy Kids Day is a free community event to get kids moving and learning. There will be hands-on, interactive activities for families to participate in, along with membership specials for the YMCA and special promotions for YMCA summer day camp programs.

Sunday, April 27, 2014:

Red Cross Stadium Stomp

American Red Cross of Northwest Florida

222 N. Baylen Street

Pensacola

Sunday: Run/Walk: 2:00 p.m.   Baseball game: 4:00 p.m.

Saturday: pre-registration/packet pick-up at World of Beer

Be a part of the American Red Cross 1^st Annual Stadium Stomp! Bring the family and run/walk the 1.3-mile course through and around the Wahoo Stadium at the Community Maritime Park. Finish the afternoon by staying for an exciting baseball game. All proceeds benefit the American Red Cross of Northwest Florida. The cost is $25 for the run/walk and $9 for the baseball game. To register, visit www.Active.com or call 850.432.7601.